Kingfisher Breaking News (20 April 2014)

 

 

Kingfisher news: this morning the adult bird has been spotted removing an egg shell! It looks like our first kingfisher has hatched!

 

 picture by Tom Bell

 

 

If the young successfully fledge it will be the first time EVER that we've had breeding kingfishers! Eep! We're excited!

 

 

 

If you want to see kingfisher a good time is when the young have hatched - once they hatch the parents are in and our with fish (those babies get rather hungry!) - when they are about 10 days old the parents will both be off hunting and bringing back fish (which can get to bringing in a fish every 10 minutes!)

The eggs are incubated for 19-21 days, and once hatched the young will stay hidden in the bank for about 24-25 days. Once fledged they may stay about (but well hidden) for a couple of days until the parents chase them off ready to start on their next brood.

The kingfisher can have upto 3 brood per breading season - laying 6-7 eggs each time!

 

(20/04/2014)